The country has witnessed a sharp rise in the formation of new political parties over the past nine months, with 27 new entities emerging amid a shifting political climate, according to data from the Election Commission (EC).
As of April 20, a total of 65 political parties — both new and existing — have submitted applications seeking registration with the EC. In addition, 46 more parties have requested additional time to complete their applications, officials said.
The current period, political analysts said, has become a fertile breeding ground for new political platforms. Several of these are being described as "King's Parties," a term commonly used in Bangladesh to describe parties believed to be formed with backing from government.
The parties that have emerged: Nucleus Party of Bangladesh (NPB), Nationalist Democratic Party, World Muslim Community, Somota Party, Bangladesh Popular Party (BPP), Sovereignty Movement, Bangladesh Reform Party (BRP), Bangladesh Muktir Dak 71, Bangladesh Jagrata Party, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Party (BGP), National Revolutionary Council, Desh Janata Party, Aamianatar Dal, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Shakti, Bangladesh Social Democratic Party (BSDP), Bangladesh Jan-Odhikar Party, National Citizen Party (NCP), Jonotar Bangladesh Party, Janatar Dal, Democratic Citizen Power, Bhashani Janashakti Party, Bangladesh Shantir Party, Aam Janata Party (BAJP), Janota Party Bangladesh, Bangladesh Notun Dhara Janata Party, Bangladesh Republic Party and United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh).
Among the new parties, the NCP is the most important one in the discussion. Many of these new parties have applied for registration with the EC. Many parties have asked for time to apply for registration.
In 2008, the ATM Shamsul Huda Commission introduced a legal reform and introduced the registration system. It gave three registration conditions. Only registered parties were given the opportunity to participate in the vote. Registration of a political party is mandatory to participate in the parliamentary elections. Apart from party candidates, others have to be independent candidates in the parliamentary elections.
Before the last 12th parliamentary elections, 98 applications were received. In the last four parliamentary elections, 55 parties have been registered so far. The registration of 5 parties has been canceled. And the registration of Awami League is suspended. Currently, 49 parties are registered with the Election Commission. Applications for registration with the Election Commission can be applied for until June 22.
Regarding the question of whether the current period is fertile for the formation of new political parties, Janatar Dal member secretary Azam Khan told Bangladesh Pratidin, “In the past, people did not have freedom of speech. People could not speak their minds openly. After the mass uprising, people are able to speak their minds openly. Due to which people have taken to the streets with 199 demands. People are preparing for more demands.”
“Many are also giving advance warnings. I do not see the formation of new parties as negative. Those who are forming parties for fun will disappear through the decision of the people. After the Janata Dal was launched in December, we have decided MP candidates in 55 seats,” he added.
Janata Party Bangladesh Secretary General Shawkat Mahmud said, “Political parties have been forming after every revolution or mass uprising. After the change, in 1975, when an act was passed for the registration of political parties, 70 parties registered under that act. Many of the parties that are now there applied to the EC and did not get registration. Another party filed a case in the High Court and is doing so from there.”
When asked whether there is still a possibility of the birth of Kings' Party, he said, “The possibility of the birth of Kings' Party, which NCP has talked about. There is some Kings' Party in the NCP. Because those who made the mass uprising successful. The chief advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, said to NCP - you can form a political party. They have formed a political party. The government is not providing any banking there. Some advisors are helping them in various ways. The government has no agenda to form a political party so far. That is why I am saying that the King's Party is not coming like that.”
Joint member secretary of the NCP, Joynal Abedin Shishir, said, “We are basically an organic organization formed from the movement. Those who organized it were organically involved in the movement. The head of our party is not the head of the government. Most of the leaders of our party are still agitators. They are not enjoying any government facilities. Only one of our student representatives who came, but he has taken the responsibility of our party by giving up all his facilities.”
He also said that if we were a government party, it could be said that we were the King's Party. However, we demanded a second republic. The opposition parties including BNP did not comply.
“We have not been able to do what is still among our demands in the Second Republic. We demanded the removal of the President and Jubo League leader Chuppu. We did not succeed due to the disagreement of other parties including BNP. That means we are not in the government. If we were in the government, if we were the King's Party, we would have canceled these,” he added.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
